Combined corn-planter and fertilizer-distributer



' rNo Model.)

R. W. JONES.

4 SheetS-Shet 1.

COMBINED CORN PLANTBR- AND PBRTILIZEB. DISTRIBUTER.

IIHV l Patented'eb. 18, 1896.

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. W. JONES.

COMBINED CORN PLANTER AND .'EERTILIZIEIRV DISTRIBUTERJ Patented Feb. 18, 1896.

ma p; @M m x j me AN UREw B.GRAHAM.PHOTu S14/vamo@ No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

. R. W. JONES. COMBINED CORN PLANTER AND PERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

No. 555.044. Patented Peb. 18, 1895.

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(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4. R. W. J UNES. COMBINED CORN PLANTBR AND PERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

No. 555,044. Patented Feb. 18, 1896.

WM 1 .my ,7/5/ Y] 9.97# M e /jz a NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD IV. JONES, OF ROCK HALL, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SAMUEL BECK, OF CHESTERTOIVN, MARYLAND.

COMBINED CORN-PLANTER AND FERTILIZER-DISTRIBUTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,044, dated February 18, 1896.

Application led December 26, 1894. Serial No. 532,925. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: In the accompanying drawings, in which Be it known that I, RICHARD W. JONES, a like letters of reference indicate correspondcitizen of the United States, residing at Rock ing parts throughout the several views, Fig- IIall, in the coiinty of Kent and State of Maryure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embody- 5 5 5 land, have invented certain new and useful ing my invention; Fig. 2, a side elevation of Improvements in a Combined Corn-Planter the same, partly broken away to show certain and Fertilizer-Distributer; and I do hereby parts of the mechanism; Fig. 3, a vertical declare thefollowingto be afull, clear, and eX sectional view on the line 0c of Fig. 2 and act description of the invention, such as will viewed in the direction of the arrow or from 6o 1o enable others skilled in the art to which it apthe rear and showing one set of hoppers; Fig. pertains to make and use the same. 4, a side elevation of the combined fertilizer My invention relates to a combined cornmeasurer and cut-off; Fig. 5, a vertical londropper and fertilizer-distributer capable in gitudinal sectional view of the same; Fig. G, practice of being applied to any of the wella plan view of the same; Fig. 7, a bottom plan i5 known planters now in use. Hence the coview of the corn-dropping mechanism; Fig. struction of the machine proper forms no part S, a vertical sectional view thereof, showing of my invention. the parts in a position to drop the corn; Fig.

The main object of my invention is to in- 9, a like view with the parts in position to resure the dropping of the fertilizer in any deceive the corn from the hopper, and Fig. 10 7o zo s ired quantity at regular intervals and to prea sectional View on the line y y of Fig. 9 and vent any waste thereof. viewed in the direction of the arrow.

A further important object is to secure the The body or frame of the machine is of the certain dropping of the desired number of usual or any preferred construction and need grains of corn coincident with the fall of the not be more particularly described. 25 fertilizer. Supported on the frame of the machine by Further objects of the invention relate to suitable standardsctare the fertilizer-hoppers the construction of the corn and fertilizer A A and the corn-hoppers B B', a corn-hopdropping apparatus and the mechanism to per and fertilizer-hopper being located on operate the same, whereby the dropping ofthe each side of the machine, as shown, and in 8o 3o corn and fertilizer together, and in approxiclose proximity to each other.

mately the same spot, is assured, irrespective In Fig. 3 I have shown a sectional view of of the speed of the machine, all clogging of one set of hoppers A B, to which the descripthe parts prevented, and a certainty of operation will be limited, the other set, A B, betion obtained, insuring more satisfactory reing similar thereto in all respects. Within 3 5 sults and a less amount of waste than are posthese hoppers are agitators q q', respectively, sible with any other machine of which I am which are fastened on a rod a2. On the outer aware. end of this rod is a crank-arm o3, and on the IVith the above objects in view my invenhub of the wheel of the machine a similar arm tion consists in an adjustable cut-off and a4, the said arms being connected bya rod o5. 9o

4o measurer for the fertilizer. In the forward movement of the machine the My invention further consists in an imrevolution of the wheels will cause the agitaproved slidable cut-oif and corn-dropper. tors to be rocked to and fro, as will be read- My invention further consists in the conily understood. struction of the spout for delivering the corn In the bottom of the hopper A, and located 45 and fertilizer to the ground simultaneously, near its outer side, is an opening CLG, through but adapted to keep them separated while in which the fertilizer passes, and immediately the spout. beneath this opening, and secured to the bot- My invention further consists in certain detom of the hopper in any suitable manner, is tails of construction and operation of parts, the cut-off and measurer C for the fertilizer, roo 5o all as hereinafter more fully described and which is best shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. This pointed out in the claims. cut-off and measurer comprises a frame, generall y rectangular in shape, consisting of side pieces, b c, which are solid, and end pieces, ZJ d, having, respectively, lateral slits or openings h2 ci. On the outer side pieces, c, are secured bails b DI c'1 c, respectively, which serve as guides for the arms d dof aslidable yoke D. At their rear ends the arms d d are each provided with a lug di, which extends at a right angle thereto, and each lug d3 is provided with a number of bolt -holes di, adapted to receive a bolt d5, which is secured in place by nuts d The openings b2 c2 in the ends Z2 c are in alignment with each other, and through them slides a plate E, guided by grooves (not shown) in the inner faces of the sides b c, one end of which is se* cured to the bolt di. The purpose of the plate E is to receive the fertilizer as it falls from the hopper. At their forward ends the arms (Z d are each provided with an upward-extending lug (Z7, having bolt-holes therein, which are in alignment with each other. Through the two upper holes passes a bolt dS, secured at its ends by suitable nuts, and secured on said bolt is a plate F, termed herein a cutoff plate, which is adapted to slide in grooves formed inn the upper edges of the sides l c and above the plate E. The arrangement of the plates E and F is such that as the plate E is entering the frame C the plate F will be leaving it, and vice versa. A second bolt, (I9, passes through the lower set of holes in the lug and serves to retain between the two ends of the arms (l d one end of a bar G, which is operated by suitable mechanism, hereinafter' described, to reciprocate the yoke D.

In the bottom of the hopper B is an opening b, through which the corn falls, and immediately beneath this opening, and secured to the bottom of the hopper in any suitable manner, is the coi-irtli'opper and cut-olf H. This cut-off and dropper comprises two guiderails II' Il', which are provided with screwholes h, through which pass screws to fasten the device to the hopper.

The upper inner faces of the rails 1I' are provided with grooved recesses h2, affording a seat and guideway for a plate H2, which slides in said way Hush with the upper surfaces of the rails. This plate is provided with an opening c. Secured on the underside of plate I12 at its forward end is a block 7d, and secured in said block is a depending staple 7L, to which is pivotally secured a rod h4, which, in the operation of the device, causes the reciprocation of the parts of the corn-dropper, as will presently appear. About midway of the corn-dropper, and let into recesses in the bottom of the rails II, is a brace-bar H, which also acts as a stop to limit the movements of the parts and to support the grains of corn before they are dropped to the ground. Situated on the bottom inner sides of the rails H and extending rearward from the bar H3 are guide-supports h5, and sliding thereon and supported thereby and by the bar U3 is a slide-block 1I, preferably rectangular in contour, and having an aperture h, and on its under side, near its rear end, a stop-piece W. Secured at one end to the rear of the block H4, and curved upward to have its other end secured to the rear of the hopper 13, is a leafspring S, which tends normally to press said block forward. Fastened tothe block il, and extending forward therefrom, is a rod R, having at its free end a projection r. This rod is adapted to slide freely through a staple, or other securing means s, on the block h and to have its projection r engaged by the front end of the block in the forward movement of the parts.

I indicates a spout, which is divided into two compartments p p by a transverse partition 712,into the forward con'lpartment of which a chute Q leads from the frame C. A chute Q' leads from the corlrdropper into the rear compartment. The spout P is secured to the framework in any suitable manner, and its discharge end is located between the two arms u t of the runner V. Near the bottom of the compartment p, or the one through which the corn drops, is pivotally secured a valve p, which is alternately opened and. closed by means of a rod p, operated by a bell-crank lever p, which in turn is operated by a rod jr".

Extending transversely across the machine and pivotally secured in suitable bearings ou the framework are rods T T, and firmly secured thereon are upward-extemling bifurcatcd fingers t t', respectively. Keyed on the rod T' is a short crankarm p, to which the rod p5 is pivotally secured. On the rod T is keyed a short craukarm t2, to which is pivotally connected the bar G for operating the fertilizer cut-olf. Keyed on the rod Tl is a simi lar crank-arm t, to which is pivotally secured the bar h4, which operates the corn-droljiper.

First premising that this machine is intended to be used in connection with the ordinary button-chain, (indicated at Y,) and that the mechanisms described are operated by means of the buttons contacting with the fingers t t to rock, in turn, the rods T T', and that when the fingers are freed from the buttons the rods are returned to their normal position by means of suitable springs, such as indicated at t" tf", I will now give a general description of the operation of my device.

The hopper A is filled with fertilizer, which is supported on the plate E, and the hopper B with corn. The button-rope being placed in the bifurcations of the fingers l; t', the machine is started. The iin ger t is first operated by a button to rock the rod T and thereby move the rod G and yoke D in a backward direction. This causes the plate F to pass beneath the opening alin thehopperA to arrest the fall of the fertilizer, while the plate E is withdrawn from the frame C andthe fertilizer thereon pushed off by contact with the side c, whence it falls through the chute Q and forward compartment j) of the spout 1 tothe ground. As the machine continues its for- TOD IIO

The opening e in the plate H2 registering in this position with the opening Z1 in the hopper, the corn falls through said openings and rests on the support H3. As the bar h4 is moved backward, the block h', to which it is attached, moves the plate or cut-off Hzbackward, so that the openings e and h6 no longer register and the supply of corn is cut off. The

block 7L now comes in contact with the slideblock H4 and moves it backward on the guidesupports h5 against the resistance of the spring S until the parts assume the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8, or, in other words, until the opening h6 clears the support H3,when the corn contained in said opening drops into the chute Q and into the rear compartment p of the spout P and rests on the valvepps. Coincident with the last-described operation, the rod 'll also rocks the crank-arm p6, which, through the medium of the rod p5, bell-crank lever p4, and rod p3 causes the valve p8 to open and drop the corn contained thereon to the ground. The dropping of the corn is practically coincident with the fall of the fertilizer, but 'it is sufficiently delayed to insure of the corn falling in the fertilizer.

It will be understood that the desired number of grains of corn are always resting on the blade of the valve p8, and after the latter has opened and allowed these grains to fall it is closed again by the retraction of the spring t in time to receive the grains falling from the chute Q'. As the button leaves the finger t4, the spring t5 operates to return the parts to their normal position. In this operation the plate H2 and block H4 move in unison, the former through the retraction of bar h4 and the latter through the pressure of spring S, until the stop h7 strikes the support H3, when the forward movement of block H4 is arrested. At this point the opening h6 is directly under the opening b, but communication between them is closed. The plate H2 is still further drawn forward until the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 7. S break, or from any cause fail to operate, the block 7L', contacting with the projection o on the rod R, will cause the block H4 to be drawn back to its proper position.

In the forward movement of the machine the revolutions of the wheels, through the mechanisms previously described, will operate the agitators q q in the well-known manner, and cause the corn and fertilizer, respectively, to be fed to their delivering apparatus.

Should the spring Referring to Fig. 5, it will be readily seen that by inserting the rod d5 in either set of holes d4 and the plate E in the corresponding openings b2 c2 the amount of fertilizer to be dropped can be regulated to suit the requirements of the soil.

So far as I am aware, it has been the general practice in corn-planters to drop the corn and fertilizer through the same spout. Where this is done, it is found that the fertilizer will in time clog the corn-dropping mechanism and materially interfere with the working of the machine. This objection I overcome by keeping the corn and fertilizer entirely separate until they reach the ground.

It will also be seen that by the arrangement I have described the corn and fertilizer will always reach the ground at approximately the same time irrespective of the speed of the machine.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a corn-planter and fertilizer-distributer, a cut-off and measurer comprising a measuring-chamber having a plurality of slits or openings in opposite sides thereof, a pair of oppositely-arranged cut-off plates adapted to slide in said openings, and means for reciprocating the said plates.

2. In a corn-planter and fertilizer-distributer, a cut-off and measurer comprising a measuring-chamber having a plurality of slits or openings in opposite sides thereof, in alignment with each other, a pair of oppositely-arranged cut-off plates adapted to slide through said openings at different heights, respectively, and means for reciprocating the said plates.

3. In a corn-planter and fertilizer-distributer, in combination with a hopper, a cut-off and measurer comprising a measuring-chamber having a series of slits or openings in opposite sides thereof, a pair of oppositely-arranged cut-off plates adapted to slide in said openings, one of said plates being adapted to be inserted in any pair of the series of openings, whereby to increase or diminish the carrying capacity of the said chamber.

Il. In a corn-planter and fertilizer-distributer a cut-off and measurer comprising ameasuring-chamber having a series of slits or openings in opposite sides thereof, a yoke supported in bearings on said chamber and carrying a pair of oppositely-arranged cut-off plates adapted to slide through said openings, one of said plates being stationary with regard to the yoke and the otherbeing adjustable thereon, and means for reciprocating the yoke.

5. In a corn-planter and fertilizer-distributer, a cut-o and measurer comprising a measuring-chamber having a series of slits or openings in opposite sides thereof; a yoke supported in bearings on said chamber and carrying a pair of oppositely-arranged cut-off plates adapted to slide through said openings, one of said plates being adjustable, lugs depend- IOO IIO

ing from said yoke and haring a series of holes therein in alignment with each other, a bolt adapted to rest in said holes and carrying the adjustable plate, and means for reciprocating the yoke.

(5. In a corn-planter and fertilizer-distributer, a corn-dropper comprising, in eombination with the hopper, a slide-block having a corn-receptacle, a cut-oit plate coaetin g therewith and with the hopper, and means for re ciprocating said block and plate.

'7. In a corinplanter and fertilizendistributer, a cornfdropper comprising, in combina tion with the hopper, a slide-block having a corn-receptacle, a grain-supporting plate, a cut-oil' plate having an opening, located between the slide-block and hopper, and means for reciprocating first the cut-ott plate and then the slide-block.

S. In a corn-planter and fertilizer-distributer, a corn-dropper comprising, in combination with the hopper, a slide-block having an opening, guideways beneath the hopper on which said block bears7 a cut-oit plate having an opening, and supported on said block and adapted to slide between it and the hopper, and means for reciprocating iirst the eutoit plate and then the slide-block whereby to bring the opening in the slide-block and in the cut-off plate alternately into register with the discharge-mouth of the hopper.

9. In a corn-planter and fertiliZer-distributer, a corn-dropper comprising, in combina tion with the hopper, a slide-block having a corn-receptacle, means for automatically projecting the block into register with the diseharge-opening of the hopper, a eutoit plate coacting with the said block and with the hopper, and means for reciprocating said block and plate.

10. In a corn-planter and fertilizer-distribnter, a corn-dropper comprising, in combination with a hopper, a combined cnt-oft plate and slidebloek, means for reciprocating the same in unison, and a stop for arresting the motion of the slide-block in advance ot' the stoppage of the cut-oft plate.

1l. In a corn-planter and fertilizer-distributer, a corn-dropper comprising, in combination with a hopper, a cut-off plate carrying a block, 71.', means for reciprocating the said plate, and a slide-block located beneath the plate and adapted to be projected by the block, 7L'.

12. In a corn-dropper and fertilizer-distributer, a corn-dropper comprising, in combination with a hopper, a cut-ofi' plate having a block, 7i, means for reciprocating said plate, a slide-block located beneath the plate and adapted to be projected by the block, h, and means for imparting a retrograde movement to the slide-block.

13. In a corn-planter and [ertilizer-t'listribnter, a corn-dropper comprising, in combination with a hopper, a slide-block and a cutotl plate having each an opening adapted normally to register with the dischargeopening of the hopper, a grain-support, Il, positioned normally to prevent discharge from said openings, and reciprocating mechanism for projecting iirst the cut-oil plate, whereby to stop the ilow of grain, and then the slideblock whereby to clear it of the said grainsnpport, substantially as described.

l-t. In a corn-planter and fertilizer-distributer, a fertilizer-hopper and grain-hopper, a spout through which the fertilizer is discharged directly to the ground, a valve inthe spout onto which the grain falls, and means for operating the valve to permit a droppage of the grain supported thereon coincident with the discharge of the fertilizer.

15. In a corn-planter and tortilizer-distrib nter, a fertilizelr-hopper and grain-hopper, a spout loca-ted below the fertilizer-chamber and having a partition forming two com partments, one of which is in connnunication with t-he fertilizer-hopper, a valve in the other compartment, a chute connecting the grainhopper with the latter compartment, andv means for operating the valve whereby to canse it to drop the grain coincident with the discharge of the fertilizer.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD W. JONES. lVitnesses:

ALFRED C. LOUD, PHILIP G. W ILMER. 

